Tool for laying and stretching carpets



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANCIS CIST, WM. KOSSAK, AND WM. H. GODFREY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TOOL FOR LAYING- AND STRETCI-IING CARPETS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,650, dated June 12, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS CIsT, WIL- LIAM KossAK, and WILLIAM H. GODEREY, all of St. Louis, iu the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Tool for Stretching and Tacking Down Carpets; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in combining the upper jaw of a pair of pliers or pincers with an upright foot F on the sole of which a device D is arranged, designed to hold a tack T (such as are used to fasten carpets, oilcloth &c.) in such a position, that tack T may be sunk by pressure into the desired place, using point P as a fulcrum resting on the floor after the carpet &c. has been pulled up to that place by means of the pliers. The tack may be sunk down entirely by pressure alone or it may be sunk only partly and the remainder of its length may be driven down by blows issued with the hammer H attached to the lower jaw of the tool, after having it withdrawn.

The top or toe of the foot of the tool is provided with a claw C for extractin tacks, its lower surface lying in the same pglane as the lower surface of the tack-holding device; all according to the accompanying drawing.

The wedge W provided with the slit S fastened with its rectangular continuation to the foot F forms the recess R to receive the head of a tack and the direction of this recess therefore forms an acute angle (a) with the lower surface of the foot F, and this angle (a) should be of such a magnitude as to bring the tack to be driven into the most favorable position for sinking it into the Hoor without bending it; the aforesaid recess R widens gradually toward the mouth to facilitate the withdrawal of the tool after sinking the tack.

The handles of the tool are curved as shown in the illustration to give a convenient bearing surface to the hand and to bring the line of thrust into proper' direction.

In using the tool the operator takes hold of the carpet with the pliers, pulls it to the designed place and sinks the tack through it into the iioor using the heel P of the tool as a fulcrum. Then he withdraws the tool and if he chooses gives the tack a final blow with the hammer at the lower jaw.

Ve do not claim as our invention the use of pliers or pincers for stretching carpets, but

l/Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The combined arrangement of the wedge WV, the recess R behind the wedge and the slit S in the wedge with each other and with the pliers or pincers all constructed and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

FRANCIS CIST. WILLIAM KOSSAK. WV. H. GODFREY.

lVitnesses:

C. M. OEQUEMBOURG, O. S. FULLER. 

